Dubai: India’s Shiv Kapur soared on eagle’s wings as he fired a superb six-under-par 66 to share the halfway lead with Thai prospect Pavit Tangkamolprasert at the inaugural Asian Tour’s Dubai Open on Friday.

Kapur, who triumphed in Dubai on the European Challenge Tour at the end of last season, maintained his love-affair with the vibrant city, holing out for a stunning two from the fairway at the par four first hole before adding five more birdies against one bogey at the magnificent Els Club Dubai.

Newly crowned Asian Development Tour number one Pavit continued to show his potential with a battling 70 which tied Kapur on seven-under-par 137, one ahead of Indian duo Arjun Atwal (65) and Gaganjeet Bhullar (69), Scotsman Simon Yates (67)and Korean teenager Wang Jeung-hun (67) in what is the final tournament of the 2014 Asian Tour season.

Thailand’s Prom Meesawat, needing a victory in Dubai to finish second on the Order of Merit and qualify for the WGC-Cadillac Championship, carded a steady 68 for tied seventh place with MENA Tour’s number one Joshua White and Japan’s Daisuke Kataoka.

Dubai resident Kapur got off to a flying start by holing out a six iron for his opening eagle before finishing strongly with birdies on 16 and 17 to enhance his chances of winning a second Asian Tour victory.

“Solid performance ... started off holing my second shot, so that's always a great way to start the day and I pretty much just eliminated the mistakes on my card. Made one bogey in two rounds, and I haven't made a ton of putts or a ton of birdies but when you keep the bogeys off the card, you're usually going to be there or thereabouts,” said Kapur, who was the Asian Tour Rookie of the Year in 2005.

“I love this place. The last time it was the season ending event (European Challenge Tour) and I won, so fingers crossed I can continue the mojo. I'm planning on winning but it's tough to say. There's a lot of golf left.”

A double bogey on 16 pulled Pavit back into the joint lead but the 25-year-old is hopeful of sweetening his season with a maiden victory on the Asian Tour following three wins on the Development Tour this year.

“I feel very confident now because I didn't feel any pressure as I already have a Tour card next year (from his ADT ranking). I learned a lot before this week. It's me against the golf course. But on this Tour, it’s tough but I learned how to make the cut and now, you just focus and play your game,” said Pavit.

The old Atwal, Asia’s number one in 2003, showed up as he produced a fine seven-birdie card to charge into contention. “It felt really good, actually. Felt like the old days,” smiled the 41-year-old Atwal, the first Indian to win on the PGA Tour in 2010.

“No mistakes, no bogeys, just solid. And it was playing easy, it was gettable. It was easier than yesterday in the afternoon.”

Three weeks into his comeback following a three-month layout due to a wrist injury, Bhullar showed he was also back in top form with four birdies on the card., including two in his last three holes.

“It was a great finish. I gave myself a lot of opportunities coming down the stretch. But really got lucky on number seven where I holed a bunker shot. Today was a consistent round. I hit a lot of greens in regulation,” said the 26-year-old, who is a five-time Asian Tour winner.

Thai-based Yates also turned back to clock with seven birdies and one double bogey pushing him into contention. “Honestly it was just like the old days, just the way it flew and the way the ball came out, just my strength and my grip. I'll be trying that the next couple of days,” said the two-time Asian Tour winner.

Northern Ireland’s Darren Clarke carded a 71 to lie o 143, six shots off the pace while England’s Tommy Fleetwood, who needed a 16th or better finish to qualify for the Masters Tournament, missed the cut after a 76.

The halfway cut was set at 145 with 66 players, including 11 MENA Tour players and Moroccan amateur Mehdi Saissi moving the final two rounds.

The Dubai Open is promoted and organised by golf in DUBAi. The Els Club Dubai is situated within the sprawling Dubai Sports City where the par-72 course combines links style golf with traditional 'classical era' design. Opened for play in 2008, the course stretches 7,538 yards and was named as ‘Best New International Course’ by prestigious US magazine, Links, and “Best New Facility of the Year” by Troon Golf.


Scores after round 2 of the Dubai Open being played at the par 72, 7,538 Yards The Els Club Dubai course (am - denotes amateur):

137 - Shiv KAPUR (IND) 71-66, Pavit TANGKAMOLPRASERT (THA) 67-70.

138 - Arjun ATWAL (IND) 73-65, Gaganjeet BHULLAR (IND) 69-69, Simon YATES (SCO) 71-67, WANG Jeung-hun (KOR) 71-67.

139 - Daisuke KATAOKA (JPN) 73-66, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) 71-68, Joshua WHITE (ENG) 71-68.

140 - Bryce EASTON (RSA) 69-71, Pariya JUNHASAVASDIKUL (THA) 68-72, Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) 71-69, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) 71-69.

141 - Joonas GRANBERG (FIN) 72-69, MO Joong-kyung (KOR) 70-71, Craig HINTON (ENG) 67-74, LAM Chih Bing (SIN) 67-74, Ross MCGOWAN (ENG) 71-70, Thitiphun CHUAYPRAKONG (THA) 70-71, Scott BARR (AUS) 68-73, Panuphol PITTAYARAT (THA) 69-72, Danny CHIA (MAS) 71-70, Nicholas FUNG (MAS) 71-70, Matthew FITZPATRICK (ENG) 70-71, Nathan HOLMAN (AUS) 68-73, Marcus BOTH (AUS) 70-71, Christopher CANNON (ENG) 67-74, CHAN Shih-chang (TPE) 70-71.